Solemnence: Sisters in Melancholy

By Aleksi Karvonen

Solemnence - Sisters in Melancholy. The tale of two sisters in one; Perennial Sophia & Eternal Deliria.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Books on Demand
• Release date: Jun 4, 2019
• ISBN: 9789528002703

Aleksi Karvonen

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Book preview

Solemnence

Contents & Author's Note

Perennial Sophia

Eternal Deliria

Copyright

Contents & Author's Note

Solemnence

~ Sisters in Melancholy ~

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Perennial Sophia / Eternal Deliria

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Author's Note:

Whistling in the wind.

Perennial Sophia

Perennial Sophia

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I leaned against the wall and listened to the pleasant sounds of party echoing throughout the wealthy ballroom - the mild chatter of guests, warm cracking of the hearth, mellow ticking of the grandfather clock, the occasional clacks of the billiard balls. There was a curious mixture of different fragrances in the air, perfumes of ladies mixing with the respectable odours of the older gentlemen, forming a feeling of old and youth adjoined, heightening my earlier feel that I was a bit out of place in such luxurious circles, despite my unquestionably considerable status.

The grandfather clock near me started chiming, and lacking anything better to do at the moment, I counted the strikes. Eleven - so the party had gone on for quite a while already, and despite the pervasive boredom, time had hurried by surprisingly fast. Most of my participation had consisted of simply observing the various people, attempting to see how many of them I'd be able to recognize. Unfortunately, being quite new in these parts, the only familiar faces had been that of my host's - who I'd not seen after my arrival - and his personal butler, who, contrary to his master's absence, made constant rounds amongst the guests, always receiving a warm welcome, apparently enjoying quite a high status despite his servitory nature. I didn't think much on it, since, as mentioned, I'd only recently arrived in this region and the local customs, as I'd come to understand, were obviously  largely different.

As I continued my observation of the guests, taking note of the joyful nature in their conversations - especially a particular group of older gentlemen, who were gathered around a silvery billiards table, laughing and chatting quite openly despite the often strictly enforced etiquette - I happened to spot a singular, striking young lady wearing a curious dark-purple dress, a fair distance from me, facing a large iron-framed window. With her back to me, her curled golden hair was in full view, emanating a curious illusory visage of soft, horizontal lines of waves slowly traversing along the silky, otherwise unmoving surface. She seemed fixed in a firm vigil at the window, unaware of the party undulating around her, as if keeping watch of something.

I kept my eyes on her, wondering what she was looking at. It was obvious she wouldn't be able to see anything since it was pitch black outside, the dark autumn having already consumed last remnants of the lingering summer. I shifted my weight and took a sip of whiskey from the glass I'd been holding on for quite some time. It was quite curious how none of the other guests